Wash box water control



Sept. 12, 1933. J, SAYERS WASH BOX WATER CONTROL Filed July 30, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l [RT/6721507" C/ZZZQTZ ,Hqyer;

@Qda v Sept. 12, 1933. A. J sAYERS 1,926,409

WASH BOX WATER CONTROL Filed July 30, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flj erg -'C/0 Patented Sept. 12, 19393 UNITED STATES WASH BOX WATER ooN'rRo Albert J. Sayers, Chicago, 111., assignor to Link- Belt Company, Chicago,-lll., a corporation of iiiinois Application July 30,1935). Serial No. 471,622

' 21 Claims. (01. 209500) This invention relates to a means and a method for controlling the water level in a 11 box s.

It has for one object to provide a no and a method for use in an installation in which two or more wash boxes, positioned at different levels and maintaining different overflow levels, are operated in tandem and supplied from the same Water range.

Another object is to provide in connection with such an installation means for preventing the undue draining of the upper box by the .lOlV'ol'. Another object is to provide in such an installation means whereby the overflow level of the upper box is maintained at a predetermined point independent of and unaffected by the overiiow'level of the lower box. 1

Other objects will appear from timeto time in the specification and claims.

, My invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, whereins Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wash box installation to which my control has been ap' plied, with parts broken away and parts in sec" Figure 2 is a plan View of the same;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical cross section taken at line 3-3 of Figure l at a point between the two wash boxes; Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section on enlarged'scale showing the adjustable weir;

Figure dis a vertical cross section showing adjustable weir in a vertical plane which lies at an angle of 90 with relation to the plane of 33 Figure 4.

Like parts are designated by like characters throughout the specification and drawings.

.One form of wash box to which the structure of my present invention may be applied, is illus-' trated in my application Ser. No. 411,646, filed December 4, 1929. While my invention is not limited to-associate with the particular wash box shown in that application and while it is not in fact limited to use in a wash box of any type, it has particular importance when. associated with a plurality of wash boxes of the. type shown in that application. I have shown a pair of wash boxes arranged in tandem with my controlapplied to them. More than two wash boxes might be arranged to operate together, using the same water rangeand using or not using the same air range, as the case may be.

For purposes of simplicity, I have shown only two wash boxes connected in tandem. They are substantially identical in construction with'each other. Each is formed g nerally of a container A, having a rounded bottom A and carried by suitable supports A On the bottom of each is a trough A into which some refuse falls and which has within it a screw conveyor A which the sieve A moves the material to an elevator A within a housing A from which material is discharged into a hopper ,FJ communicating with a chute A The material is thereafter conveyed to any suitable point, A is a partition situated in the upper part of the chamber formed within the member a header A A is a valve operating assembly by means of'which the valves are opened and closed so as to discharge air through the valve A By means of this air, water within the housing is forced from the right beneath the. partition A and upward through the sieve A One such sieve is positioned in each of the wash boxes and is preferably inclined from the receiving end of the box to the discharge end of the box so thatmaterial which is fed uponthesieve' will tend to move from one end of it to the other, that isto say, from left to right, as indicatedin Figure 1, and water is constantly being forced through the sieve by means of the airpressure which is applied to it through the opening and closing of the valves Al I A is a valve.

. i3 isfan inlet chute. by means of which coal, for example; is conveyed to the. left hand wash box as shown in Figure 1. This box is provided with an outlet connection B which is generally on. a level with the discharge right hand'end of Communicating with the upper part of the left hand box is a chute B This chute is ata level above the outletrBL and coal being lighter than the refuse, will, of course, Work to the top and pass out through the chute 13 while the heavier refuse will work down and pass out through the refuse outlet B and from there is goes to one oithe refusebonveyors A The chute B discharges into the right hand wash box andthus onto the sieve A or that wash box which is provided with a refuse. outlet B and an outlet B for washed coal. The chute B may have in it a perforated plate B which ispositioned above a water discharge compartment'lB from which a pipe B loads. The discharge through the pipe B is controlled by a valve 13 Thus as coal flows from unit on the A A? are transverse vertical partitions left hand. to the wash box unit on the right hand,

to the left hand Wash box as indicated in Figure 1. C C are pipes, one of which runs from the header to each compartment. They may be controlled by valves C C is a water header positioned to supply water to the right hand wash box as shown in Figure 1. Communicating with it are pipes C C whichare positioned to supply water to each of the compartments of the right hand wash box and they are provided with valves C C is a member to which the headers C and C are connected. A fixed partion C is positioned in the member C and a movable partition C is positioned to form an adjustable continuation of the partition C The partition C may be raised and lowered by a control member C C is an opening. It may be closed by a plate or other means. The partition 0 and the movable partition C furnish a weir, adjustable in height and positioned in the path of the water as it flows supply of. water to both wash boxes.

It will be realized that whereas I have-h rewith shown and described a practical operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing materially from the spirit of my invention and I wish, therefore, that my showing be taken as in a sense diagrammaticl In particular, while I have shown an adjustable weir for controlling the level of coal in Wash boxes, my invention is not limited to this apparatus. The level of the water might be controlled by many other means, and any apparatus which would control the level of water in one wash box substantially independent of the level in another wash box joined to it, is within the contemplation of my invention.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

With two or more wash boxes arranged in tandem, to be supplied by water from the same water range, as indicated in the drawings, if nothing were provided to control the level of the upper or left hand wash box, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the water would naturally flow from the upper box and approximate the level of the water in the lower or right hand box. The water, if free to do so, will also by-pass through the.

supply pipe or header C into the second or lower box and thus the lower box will control the level of the water in the upper box and will act to drain that box and reduce its level to the level of the lower box. Since the level at'which the water should stand in the upper box is higher C from which it moves into the lower box to supply it with water. However, before water flowing from the header G into the member C can escape from it, it must flow over the partition or weir formed of the members C7 and. C

The member C which is adjustable, controls the level of the water in the upper chamber because water leaving that chamber must flow over the member C This member will be adjusted to a height suitable to maintain a proper level of water in the upper chamber, and the adjustable weir is thus eifective to control the level of water in the upper chamber no matter what the level of the water in the lower chamber may be. The member C is provided with an opening C which ,is in effect a vent to prevent siphoning of water from the higher to the lower box. As I have stated above, the adjustable weir is not the only means which might be used to accomplish this result. This construction, however, is preferred to one employing individual pipes leading'from the water supply to each wash box as this would require an additional number of valves and would make an installation which would be more expensive and more diflicult to operate. By arranging the water range as shown in the drawings, that is to say, by arranging the headers C and C and the member C one control valve may be used for handling the water and for shooting it down the plant.

In the normal operation of the machine, the individual valves C and C leading to the sev eral compartments in the first and second or up per and lower boxes, will be adjusted for the particular gravity of the coal or other material which is being washed. After these valves are once set for the proper gravity, they will normallyrequire no change. The control thereafter is eifected by opening or closing the main valve which controls the entire water supply. This may be done to meet varying tonnagesof material as delivered to the box over a days run.

While I have shown two wash boxes mounted in tandem and provided with my water level control, more than two might be so associated and the same arrangements for controlling the level between each two boxes would be used. The was ter control of this application is not necessarily limited to association with the particular means 'of supplying air shown. The air which is admitted from the header A through the pipe A controlled by the valve A and the valve A might be otherwise supplied.

In the usual operation only a very small part of the refuse normally passes through the perforated plate or sieve due to the building up and maintaining of a refuse bed upon the sieve. Most of even the smallest refuse is held within the bed and. carried with it and is therefore not passed through the sieve and does not settle into either of the troughs A Where I have used the expression sieve I mean a screen, a sieve, a perforated plate or sieve plate or any similar device or equipment which may provide a support to hold the mass of coal and its impurities in a bed above the wash box chamber. The perforations in this element provide apertures for the movement of the water upward through the mass. ours is therefore to be understood in this sense and not as comprising a means for sizing the material. t

The operation of the air valve A does not form the'particular part of the present invention. It is sufficient to say, however, that the valve when in one position permits a given flow of air to pass into the air section of the wash box, thus displacing an equal volume of water and forcing it through the perforated plate and material in the wash box, thus causing the material to stratify The term sieve where it ocl section of the wash box. In other words one and water to each cell or division of the Wash box is controlled. Valve A in a pipe A permits sin-adjustment to provide a varied pressure flow and quantity to each cell from the main air headers A The position of this valve controls'the pressure in each cell. Similar control of the water from the headers C and C is accomplished by adjustments on valves C and C 'Under certain conditions after the coal passes from one wash box to the next it is necessary to prevent the accumulation of too much water in the second box. This may not always'be necessary as this second box is usually provided with a larger wash box than the first and this arrangement of second box will therefore provide for excess water. Where, however, the second box is not suiiiciently large or where for any other reason de-watering is desirable, the periorated plate 13 is ei fective for that purpose.

I claim:

1. In combination, an upper and a lower water container, a single watersupply member, conduits connected between said supply member-and said containers whereby water from said member is discharged into each of said containers, and an obstruction other than said containers in the path of said water, adapted to control the level in the upper container irrespective of the level in the lower container; said obstruction comprising an adjustable weir'and means, independent of the water supply, for causing pulsations of the water in the said containers.

2. In combination, an upper and a lower water container, a single water'supply member, communicating first'with one and then the other, whereby water flows through said member and is discharged into each of said containers, and an obstruction apart from said containers in the path of said water, adapted to control the level in the upper container irrespective of the level in the lower container, said obstruction comprising an adjustable weir and means, independent of the water supply, for causing pulsations of the water in the said containers. 1 r

3. In combination with two water containers, each having an overflow, that of one being higher than that of the other, a single means for sup-- plyin" water concurrently to said containers and other than the containers and positioned within the water supply mes ns for controlling the level of water in one container independent ofthat in the other while maintaining the flow.

of water to both of said containers and means, independent of the water supply, for causing pulsations of the water in the said containers.

4. In combination with two water containers, each having an overflow, that of one being higher than that of the other, a single means for supply ing water to both containers concurrently, and

means in addition to the containers,andposi tioned within the water supply means for controlling the levelof water inone container independent of that in the other whilemaintaining' the flow of water to both of said containers, said means including awater passage between the two,

andmeans, independentof the watersupplmfor causing pulsations of the Water in the said containers. a

5. In combination withv two water containers,

each having an overflow, that of one being higher than that of the other, a single means for supplying water to each container, and means for controlling the level of waterin one container independent of that in the other, said water supplymeans including a water passage between the two in addition to the overflow and an obstruction in the water passage, said obstruction controlling the water level in the con" tainer next above it while concurrentlymaintaining'the supply of water to the container next below it and means, independent of the water supply, for causing pulsations of the water in the said containers.

6..In combination with two water containersQ i) each having an overflow, that of one being higher than that of the other, a single means for supplying water to each container, and means for controlling the levelof water in one container independentof'that in the other, said water supply means including a water passage between the two in addition to the overflow and a movable obstruction'in thev water passage, said obstruction controllingithe water level in the container next above it while concurrently maintaining the supply of water to the container next below it and means, independent of the water supply, for causing pulsations of the water in the said containers.

V 7. In combination in a .coal washing a'ssembly, a plurality ofwash boxes, each box including a screen, means for pulsatingly forcing water upward through each screen, a single means independent of said pulsating means for supplying waterto all of the boxes concurrently and means in the water supply means for controlling the levelof water in each washer independently while'maintainingrthe supply ofrwater to all of the boxes.

8.'In combination in a coal washing assembly,; a plurality of wash'boxes, each box includ ingia screen, means for pulsatingly forcing water upward through each screen, a single means independent of said pulsating means for supplying Water'to all of the "boxes andrmeans in the water supply means for'controlling the level of water :in each washer independently, including an obstruction in the path of the water.

9. In combination in a coal Washing, assembly, a plurality of wash boxes, each box including a screen, means for pulsatingly forcing Water upward through each screen, a single means independent of saidpulsating means for supplying" water to all of the boxes and means in the watersupply means for controlling the level of water in each washer independently, including an obstruction in the path of the water, said obstruction movable and adapted to be positioned to control ,thelevel of the next above it.

lopln'combination in a coal washing assembly, a plurality of wash boxes situated at-diiierent levels, each box including .a screen, means for forcing water pulsatinglyupward through each screen, a single means independent of said water in the washer bly, a plurality of wash boxes situated at different levels, each box including a screen positioned at an angle to the horizontal and being subdivided into a plurality of compartments, means for forcing water pulsatingly upward through each screen, a single means independent of said pulsating means for supplying-water to all of the boxes and means in the water supply means for controlling automatically the level of water in each washer independently.

12. In combination in a coal washing assembly, a plurality of wash boxes situated at different levels, eachbox including a screen positioned at an angle to the horizontal and being sub-v divided into a plurality of compartments, means for forcing water pulsatingly upward through each screen, a single means independent of said pulsating means for supplying water to all of the boxes and means for controlling the level of water in each washer independently, including an obstruction inthe path of the water outside of said boxes, said obstruction movable and adapted to be positioned to control the level of the water in the washer next above it.

13. In combination, a plurality of water containers provided with overflows and in addition, each provided with an outlet, no two outlets being at the same level; a single means for supplying water to said containers, said means being in communication with each of saidcontainers, and including a weir-like part over which water must flow in passing to one of the containers having a low level outlet and means,

, independent of the water supply, for causing pulsations of the water in the said containers.

14. In combination, a plurality of water containers provided with overflows and addition, each provided with an outlet, no two "outlets being at the same level, a single means for supplying water to said containers, said means being in communication with each of said containers,

and formed to provide a part over which water must flow in passing from one container to the other, said part approximately on a level with the dischargepoint of the container next above .it andmeansindependent of thewater supply,

for causing pulsations of the water in the said containers.

15. In combination, two water containers, a single water supply member, through which water flows and is discharged into each of said con tainers, and an obstructionin the path of said water within said supply member, adapted to control automatically the level in the first container, means for delivering the water passing over said obstruction to the second container whereby the level in the first container is maintained irrespective of the level in the second container and means, independent of the water supply, for causing pulsations of the waterin thesaid containers.

16. In combination, two water containers, a single water supply member, through which water flows and is discharged into each of said containers, and an obstruction in the path of said water within said supply member, adapted to control automatically the level in the first consingle water supply member, communicating first with oneand then the other, through which water flows and is discharged into each of said containers, and an obstruction inthe path of said water within said supply member, adapted to control the level in the first container, means for delivering the water passing over said obstruction to the second container whereby the level in the first container is maintained irrespective of the level in the second contai: and means, independent of the water supply, for causing pulsations of the water in the said containers.

18. In combination, two water containers, a single water supply member, communicating first with one then the other, through which water flows and is discharged into each of said containers, and an obstruction in the path of said Water within said supply member, adapted to conthe level in the second container, said obstruction comprising an adjustable weir and means, independent of the water supply, for causing pulsations of the water in the said containers.

19. In combination; two water containers, a single water supply member, whereby water flows through said member and is discharged into each of said containers, and an obstruction in said water supply member, adapted to control the level in the upper container irrespective of the level in the lower container, and means for moving material from one water container to the other and for de'watering it as it passes from one container to the other and means, independent of the water supply, for causing pulsations of the water in the said containers.

20. "In combination an upper and a lower water container, a single water supplymember, conduits connected between said supply member and said containers whereby water from said member is; discharged into each of said containers, and an obstruction other than said containers in the supply member to control the level in theupper container irrespective of the level in the lower container, while maintaining the delivery of water to said lower container from the supply member, and means independent of the water supply for causing pulsations of the water in said containers. Y

21. In combination, an upper and a lower water container, a single supply member, conduits connected between said supply member and said containers whereby water flowing through said member is discharged into each of said containers and an obstruction apart from said containers positioned in the supply member between the points of connection of the respective conduits with the supply member, whereby to control the level in the upper container irrespective of the level in the lower container, while'mainta'ining delivery of water to said lower container from the supply member, and means independent of the water supply for causing pulsations of water inrsaid containers.

ALBERT J. SAYERS. 

